For a long time, linoleum has been one of the most popular types of flooring. It is easy to install, aesthetically pleasing and reliable. However, all its advantages are lost if the junction of the two strips is done carelessly. To make the most durable and high-quality connection, which does not get dirt and dust, you can use a hair dryer for welding linoleum.
Description, modifications
A welding dryer in appearance differs from its construction and household counterparts. It has an elongated nozzle of small diameter, which creates a narrow stream of hot air. It can be manual, semi-automatic and automatic.
Hand-held machines are light and handy, ideal for hard-to-reach places or for welding intricately shaped joints.
Automatic models independently level the surface of the seam after it hardens, are suitable for large volumes of work, but they cannot be used in rooms with high humidity.
Sets, popular models
Handheld appliances are most often sold in bundled, in addition to the hair dryer including:
- standard 5 mm nozzle;
- nozzle for fast welding with a nozzle;
- floor saw and crescent cutter.
Popular Models:
- hair dryer Lesite LST 1600, 21,000 rubles;
- Leister Triac ST - a kit for welding linoleum, which includes a light balanced hand dryer and other necessary tools, 32,000 rubles;
- WELDY energy HT1600 - a popular kit at a more affordable cost, 24,000 rubles;
- hair dryer QUICK-S Electronic from FORSTHOFF (Germany), 19,000 rubles.
The purchase or rental of the described tool will be of interest to craftsmen involved in the professional laying of commercial linoleum. Unlike cold welding, a heat gun guarantees a really strong connection. The main thing is to choose a quality tool. When laying linoleum on your own in a small apartment, it makes no sense to buy expensive equipment: many companies offer to rent it on favorable terms.
Scope of use of the device
It is important to bear in mind that the use of a hair dryer for welding is not allowed for all types of linoleum canvas. During the operation of the tool, the polymer is heated to a temperature of more than 300 °C (maximum - up to 700 °C). Only high-quality materials, used mainly in public places and industrial facilities, can withstand it without deformation.
To repair an apartment with your own hands, renting such a device is not rational, because there is a possibility of damage to the decorative layer of soft (foamed) linoleum. For such a coating, as well as for felt-based material, cold welding, in fact, which is an ordinary gluing.
Hot Welding Tool Set
Before starting work, you should make sure that the necessary welding kit is available. It can be attributed to:
- Hair dryer (OKPD code 29.41.11.899). The WELDY Energy ht1600 mentioned above is quite suitable in terms of price / quality ratio.
- Required attachment.
- V-shaped cutter for preparing seams. It can be ordinary, similar to a tool for wood, or roller. The price of the latter is higher.
- Sickle-shaped knife for finishing the seam. Helps cut off excess polymer buildup.
- Soft PVC cord (filler rod) needed to fill the space between the blades.
Some technical aspects of choosing a device for welding
The main difference between such a building tool and the usual household hair dryers is the high air heating temperature (100–700 ° C).
- A quality product has the ability to smoothly adjust the intensity of heating.After the user sets the required level, it is maintained automatically during the entire welding session.
Advice! Do not be tempted by the low price of budget Chinese models equipped with only two temperature control stages. To achieve the required degree of heating is possible only by approaching / removing the device from the surface to be treated. If finances do not allow you to buy a device, the best option would be to rent a high-quality welded hair dryer, especially if you plan to use it once.
- The device must have a significant power (about 1500 W or more), otherwise the welding process will be delayed.
- The device must be equipped with a cooling tube to prevent scalding and a sensor to protect the heating element.
Using a hair dryer at work: hot welding step by step
Since the soldering of the seams of the linoleum sheet, as a rule, is used in large areas, it must be fixed before starting work. Next, we proceed according to the scheme:
- We prepare the groove for laying the filler rod. To do this, in the places of the future joint, we cut off the chamfer from the linoleum. It is almost impossible to do this manually, you will need a special knife. As a result, we get a cone-shaped groove.
- We put on the hair dryer a nozzle equipped with a nozzle and a guide through which the hot cord will flow. Do not forget about safety: the nozzle will get very hot.
- During the melting process, the polymer will gradually fill the equipped groove, so we are slowly advancing the hair dryer. We try to avoid fusion and plastic exit beyond the seam. If the polymer layer thins, add temperature (there is such a possibility in Energy hair dryers) and slow down the speed of progress.
- Excess polymer is removed with a sickle-shaped knife.
Hot welding process not so difficult, with the appropriate equipment it is quite easy to master. At the same time, the quality of laying linoleum improves, it is possible to get rid of unaesthetic seams. When deciding whether renting or buying an instrument is preferable in your case, be based on the planned frequency of use, your own financial capabilities.
